Maternity pay and leave: what you're entitled to

Maternity leave

If you are an employee, you are entitled to up to 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity Leave — regardless of how long you've worked for your employer and regardless of how many hours you work. This is split into:

• Ordinary Maternity Leave — the first 26 weeks
• Additional Maternity Leave — the following 26 weeks

You don't have to take all 52 weeks, but you must take at least 2 weeks after your baby is born (4 weeks if you work in a factory).

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

SMP (opens in a new tab) is paid by your employer if you meet the eligibility criteria. It is paid for up to 39 weeks.

Qualifying for SMP

To qualify for SMP, you must:

• Be an employee (not self-employed)
• Have worked for the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your due date (called the "qualifying week")
• Earn at least £129 per week (gross) on average in the relevant period
• Give your employer the correct notice

When to tell your employer

You must tell your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date that you're pregnant. You'll need to give written notice of:

• That you're pregnant
• Your expected week of childbirth
• When you want to start maternity leave

You can change your start date with 28 days' notice. Maternity leave can start as early as 11 weeks before your due date.

Your employer must confirm your maternity leave start and end dates in writing within 28 days.

MATB1 form

To claim SMP, you'll need a MATB1 certificate from your midwife or GP. This confirms your pregnancy and expected due date. It's usually given to you at around 20–28 weeks. Give the original to your employer — they need it to process your SMP claim.

If you need a MATB1 from Abbamoor, request it through reception or via your online patient record.

Maternity Allowance (MA)

If you don't qualify for SMP — for example, because you're self-employed, have recently changed jobs, or have low earnings — you may qualify for Maternity Allowance (opens in a new tab) instead. MA is paid by the government (through Jobcentre Plus), not your employer.

• Paid for up to 39 weeks
• Standard rate: £194.32 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings — whichever is lower
• Available from 11 weeks before your due date
• You must have been employed or self-employed for at least 26 of the 66 weeks before your due date

Claim MA by completing form MA1 on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). You'll need your SMP1 form from your employer (showing why you can't get SMP) and your MATB1 certificate.

Shared Parental Leave (SPL)

If you and your partner both meet the eligibility criteria, you can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you after the first two weeks of maternity leave.

Shared Parental Leave (opens in a new tab) allows you to take leave at the same time as your partner, take it in blocks (rather than all at once), and return to work and dip back into leave. You must give your employer at least 8 weeks' notice.

Your partner qualifies if they are the child's father or your spouse, civil partner, or partner, and they meet work and earnings thresholds.

Paternity leave

Eligible partners can take up to 2 weeks of Statutory Paternity Leave (opens in a new tab). The weeks can be taken together or separately in one-week blocks and must end within 52 weeks of the birth (or due date if the baby is early). Paternity Leave is a day-one employment right for eligible births from 6 April 2026, but Statutory Paternity Pay still has separate service and earnings criteria. The 2026–27 statutory rate is £194.32 per week or 90% of average earnings, whichever is lower.

Your rights during maternity leave

• You keep all your employment rights during maternity leave, including holiday accrual
• You cannot be dismissed or made redundant because you are pregnant or on maternity leave
• You are entitled to return to the same job (or a suitable alternative) after maternity leave
• If you are breastfeeding, your employer must carry out a risk assessment and make reasonable adjustments

Keeping in touch (KIT) days

While on maternity leave, you can work up to 10 "keeping in touch" (KIT) days without it ending your maternity leave or affecting your SMP. How much you're paid for KIT days is agreed with your employer — at minimum, your SMP is not affected.

If you're self-employed

Self-employed people are not entitled to SMP but may claim Maternity Allowance. If you pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions, you may qualify for the full MA rate.

Where to get more help

• GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) — search "maternity pay and leave" for the official calculator and claim forms
• Citizens Advice Havering (opens in a new tab) — free advice on benefits and employment rights
• ACAS (opens in a new tab) — helpline 0300 123 1100 for employment questions